To compare current data with some earlier data, I went back to the 2005/2006 school year. During that year, the TEA reports, DISD lost 2,053 males in grades 7-12. By contrast, it lost 1,740 females in those grade.

Fast forward to 2009-2010, the latest year for which official data is available, DIDS lost 880 males in grades 7-12. By contrast, it lost 769 females.

Now, the goods news is that DISD lost fewer male students over that period, just as it lost fewer females. The decline is quite good news.

Still, more boys are leaving than girls. Why is that? And not just within DISD, but across Texas?

I don’t know the answer, but will keep looking into this, including reviewing TEA dropout data that is supposed to come out soon about the 2010-2011 school year. Finding ways to closer the gender divide is one way to help schools keep more of their students learning at grade level and avoid the temptation to quit school.